Trip BB2506 Similan Islands

Our mid-November adventure aboard MV Blue Dolphin delivered a true taste of Andaman Sea diving—long rolling swells, a bit of challenging surface chop, but still plenty of incredible moments below the waves. Even with tricky conditions at times, the team and guests kept spirits high, and the diving rewarded us beautifully.

Day 1 – West of Eden & A Very Special Guest

We kicked off the trip at West of Eden. After the dive we saw a large male green turtle.

Back on board, we cross-checked the sighting with the Andaman Turtle Watch database and confirmed the ID—it was Colita, one of the region’s lesser well-known mature males. A fantastic start to the trip.

The afternoon warmed up and gave us some sunshine and time to spend on the famous beach of Island 8. Day 1 finished as we moored in the shadows of the islands for an early night after a bit of an adventurous day.

Day 2 – Finding Our Rhythm

Conditions remained a little lively, but underwater life was thriving. The reefs were busy with schooling fusiliers, curious batfish, and some lovely macro finds tucked into the cracks and coral heads.

After the dives Boa’s hot towels were a welcome return home to our boat, followed by plenty of delicious food to fuel us up for our next dive, after a nap of cause.

Day 3 – Richelieu Rock in Full Swing

The sea eased enough for us to push north to the Surin Islands and on to Thailand’s crown jewel, Richelieu Rock.

We enjoyed two fantastic dives—classic Richelieu at its best. Clouds of glassfish lit up in the sunlight while trevallies swept through in coordinated bursts. We found ornate ghost pipefish, harlequin shrimp, and plenty of photogenic action for wide-angle shooters.

A big thank you goes to Chris from @divehappy.com for sharing some brilliant photos from the dive and we have uploaded just a few with this blog with more to follow. 

As we wrapped up at Richelieu, MV Blue Dolphin set course south. The sea settled beautifully, giving us a somewhat smoother yellow hued evening cruise toward Koh Bon, as we shared stories over a cold beer or two the call to leave early felt justified as everyone enjoyed the evening.

Day 4 – Koh Bon

Koh Bon delivered its usual mix of dramatic topography, gentle drifts, and healthy marine life. While the swells were still around, underwater conditions remained kind, allowing everyone to enjoy relaxed final dives before heading back toward the mainland

A huge congratulations to our newly certified divers!

• Bea for completing her SSI Advanced Open Water Diver and SSI Enriched Air Nitrox courses
• Wendy and Camille, who both earned their SSI Nitrox Diver certifications—great job and well deserved!

It was a pleasure to teach you guys along with Farm and Sam. We wish you guys all the best in your future dives and hope you find your way back here to dive with us again.

To all our amazing guests from 15–19 November 2025, thank you for your good humour, adaptability, and enthusiasm—even with the long swells and lumpy seas trying to keep us on our toes! The diving was memorable, the wildlife encounters unforgettable, and the company absolutely top-notch. (well most of it 😉)

We look forward to welcoming you back aboard MV Blue Dolphin for more adventures in the Andaman Sea.

Thank You from Boots, Sam and the MV Blue Dolphin Crew.